Daily Jolt, May 20: NFL, players at odds over expanded playoffs?

On the surface, there may be competing interests when it comes to expanding the postseason field. In response to comments from Cowboys owner Jerry Jones suggesting that the league won't seek agreement from the union before expanding the playoffs, NFLPA spokesman George Atallah tells Bob Glauber of Newsday that adding a pair of playoff teams (and in turn a pair of playoff games) is "absolutely a topic for bargaining, no question." Atallah seems to be right. The National Labor Relations Act requires the parties to a Collective Bargaining Agreement to "confer in good faith with respect to wages, hours, and other terms and conditions of employment." The number of games to be played by NFL players surely falls within that broad definition. (Pro Football Talk)Comment

The Reds may be in a new city, but Joey Votto hasn't made the trip. Just as he has been since Thursday, Votto's in Cincinnati while his team is on the road, and no decision has been made on his status. The Reds start their series with Nationals with 25 men on their roster, but just 24 players available. "We haven't made a decision. We've still got some really good, positive stuff coming out from his rehab and he's gotten a lot of the soreness out of his knee," Reds manager Bryan Price said before Monday's game. "He's working diligently on his strengthening. We're not yet ready, or do we feel it necessary to make a decision right now. It's really a day-to-day, pending situation." If Votto goes on the disabled list, it would be retroactive to May 16. That would make him eligible to return May 31. (Cincinnati Enquirer)Comment

For now, anyway, the NBA can wait for Kevin Ollie. [Ollie] is staying at UConn. Ollie, who led the Huskies to the national championship in his second season as men's basketball coach, and UConn are putting the finishing touches on a new contract that will more than double his annual income, multiple sources told The Courant on Monday. ... Given that Steve Kerr, who has no coaching experience, signed a five-year, $25 million contract with Golden State, it is likely Ollie could have commanded more than $5 million a year if he aggressively sought an NBA job. But he made clear his desire to stay at UConn, at least for now, though he said he would "listen" if an NBA team approached. "I know where my heart is," Ollie said last week. Ollie will likely continue to be targeted by NBA teams. (The Courant)Comment

Must-See Photo

People in the Sao Pedro community near Manaus, Brazil, watch as a goalkeeper can't stop a penalty kick. The USA will meet Portugal in the Amazonian city on June 22 in the teams' second group game of the World Cup. (Felipe Dana/AP)

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San Antonio Spurs forward Kawhi Leonard added the Oklahoma City Thunder to his highlight reel, dropping a spin move on NBA MVP Kevin Durant and completing the athletic layup in a victory in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals.

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